Let's default to the cautious side...

This is a discussion on Let's default to the cautious side... within the The Second Amendment & Gun Legislation Discussion forums, part of the Related Topics category; I've been around here for some time & have entertained myself by watching the ratio of members-to-guests at various times. Traditionally that ratio has been ...

Let's default to the cautious side...

I've been around here for some time & have entertained myself by watching the ratio of members-to-guests at various times. Traditionally that ratio has been ~1-to-10, meaning for every registered forum member there have been approximately 10 guests watching what we have to say about various topics. In the current, extreme socio-political climate, that ratio has increased to ~1-to-15, so more folks are curious as to our opinions, level of extremism, tone of conversation, etc. As certainly one of the least, uh...inhibited & most vocal members of our motley crew I say this as much to remind myself as to remind y'all.

There are THOUSANDS of folks on the fence as to their position on Second Amendment & Right to Carry issues. And they are looking both at us & to us in an effort to pick a side of the fence upon which to stand. Let's be as civil, well-spoken, level-headed & patient as our temperaments will allow. With any luck, this illogical ridiculousness will soon pass. And then we can get right back to the fun of rippin' the thin skin right off of stupid people around here! I like this place, I don't want us to become ignorant, irrelevant, old dinosaurs...before our time.

I agree with OP on this, which is why I want to post this for all members and guests to see how I feel. These are my opinions and do NOT reflect directly on any other member of this forum or any fellow gun owner. I will not quote statistics, but I have looked them up.

1) The recent news about "banning" semi-automatic (often renamed as "assault" rifles) is somewhat uneducated. Consider that you can, in fact, hunt, target shoot, use in competition and use it for home defense. I have hunted deer and boar with an AR-15. I have also defended myself against a bear and cougar with an AR-15. Also, I'm sure our military would be very upset if you took their "assault" rifles away.

2) A "ban" on magazine capacities of 10 or more is ridiculous. I currently carry a magazine with over 10 rounds, and I own more than 1. If I ever had to defend myself, I want as many opportunities to fire back at my assailant. I seriously doubt my assailant will "fight fair." Chances are, my 9mm will be going up against something more powerful.

3) An outright "ban" of all firearms is absurd. Not withstanding 2A, I have the right to defend myself and my loved ones from harm. This would make it almost, if not, completely impossible for a law-abiding citizen to purchase and protect themselves.

4) Do you honestly think any criminal abide by any new legislation? Simply put, the mindset of a criminal is to break the law. You cannot take one out of a criminal mindset WITH law. Most criminals carry weapons obtained through ILLEGAL channels and do things that are ILLEGAL with them. This brings me to my next point....

5)Gun-free zones are legislated targets for criminal activity. A criminal, who we already established as law breakers, know that law-abiding citizens will NOT be armed in these gun-free zones. If there are no gun-free zones, yes, there will be guns there, however, the law abiding and the law breaking will both be armed. Unless the law breaking have a death wish, they would know these are not safe places for them.

6)To say that a war-zone is safer than being in this country is ridiculous. Go ahead and quote me statistics. Our soldiers have a reasonable expectation of bodily harm. They are, therefore, armed. If our soldiers did not have an effective means to defend themselves.... you know where that is going. I do not have body armor, fragmentation grenades, UAV support, a battalion, nor the amount of personal firepower they do. I do, however, believe that force is met with force. If an armed assailant comes at me, I, too, wish to be armed as well.

7)A politician with armed guards that wants to take away from our rights to defend ourselves are hypocrites. Simply because they are not PERSONALLY armed does not mean that I can have an armed security detail. In this case, I am responsible for my own safety, no one else is.

8)More guns does not equal more violence. If the ratio of lawful gun owners and criminals could switch, life would be much safer to live. Our natural instinct for self preservation would almost guarantee it. Most people do not wish to die and most criminals want their crimes to be committed in the easiest way possible with ease of entry, ease of escape and ease of incapacitation. It's a simple thing to understand.

9)I am not a radical. I am not a revolutionary. I am not a wacko gun-nut who hordes his arsenal (of 2 weapons). I am, however, a born and bred American citizen who wishes to be safe.

I try to keep my sarcastic wit in check but it just gets out of control. Good point, you never know who's looking over our shoulders.

I'm a vet also and I will bet that DHS is monitoring this & other similar sites 24/7.

After all they published a manual a couple of years ago saying one of the primary terrorist threats was from the returning military & veterans. Their rationale is because the military/vets know what they are doing around weapons. I think it is because the military/vets believe in the constitution, not the socialist agenda of this administration that they are feared.

I'm a vet also and I will bet that DHS is monitoring this & other similar sites 24/7.

After all they published a manual a couple of years ago saying one of the primary terrorist threats was from the returning military & veterans. Their rationale is because the military/vets know what they are doing around weapons. I think it is because the military/vets believe in the constitution, not the socialist agenda of this administration that they are feared.

With all of the people on here spouting off about revolution and civil war, they'd have to be stupid to NOT monitor this site. Some of the comments have been way over the line lately.

I'm a vet also and I will bet that DHS is monitoring this & other similar sites 24/7.

After all they published a manual a couple of years ago saying one of the primary terrorist threats was from the returning military & veterans. Their rationale is because the military/vets know what they are doing around weapons. I think it is because the military/vets believe in the constitution, not the socialist agenda of this administration that they are feared.

That is probably at least part of the reason why some on the left are pushing so hard to take the guns away from any returning vets who have trouble with finances by labeling them mentaly defective.

Feel with your heart - speak with your mind. There are many of us who think that we are great speakers and, because we feel impassioned, we should be able to instill that same feeling in others through fiery speach. Well, that just isn't the case. Many of us can't string two coherent sentences together.

There are gifted and eloquent speakers in our company, without a doubt. The rest of us need to THINK A LITTLE BIT before we open our yaps.

With all of the people on here spouting off about revolution and civil war, they'd have to be stupid to NOT monitor this site. Some of the comments have been way over the line lately.

^^^^Aw go on^^^^^^^^^^

They have no idea we're here,...........Unless Hopyard tipped them off!
.................................J/K, J/K, take it easy eh!

Originally Posted by RoadRunner71

Feel with your heart - speak with your mind. There are many of us who think that we are great speakers and, because we feel impassioned, we should be able to instill that same feeling in others through fiery speach. Well, that just isn't the case. Many of us can't string two coherent sentences together.

There are gifted and eloquent speakers in our company, without a doubt. The rest of us need to THINK A LITTLE BIT before we open our yaps.

I'm as guilty as the next guy but I try.

^^^^^Hey I resemble that remark,^^^^^

I'm the NEXT guy!

I agree, sometimes some folks let emotions run like Mustangs, when they should be restrained like a royal coach horse.

I would rather die with good men than hide with cowardsIf you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.
Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy."

I've been around here for some time & have entertained myself by watching the ratio of members-to-guests at various times. Traditionally that ratio has been ~1-to-10, meaning for every registered forum member there have been approximately 10 guests watching what we have to say about various topics. In the current, extreme socio-political climate, that ratio has increased to ~1-to-15, so more folks are curious as to our opinions, level of extremism, tone of conversation, etc. As certainly one of the least, uh...inhibited & most vocal members of our motley crew I say this as much to remind myself as to remind y'all.

There are THOUSANDS of folks on the fence as to their position on Second Amendment & Right to Carry issues. And they are looking both at us & to us in an effort to pick a side of the fence upon which to stand. Let's be as civil, well-spoken, level-headed & patient as our temperaments will allow. With any luck, this illogical ridiculousness will soon pass. And then we can get right back to the fun of rippin' the thin skin right off of stupid people around here! I like this place, I don't want us to become ignorant, irrelevant, old dinosaurs...before our time.